Keeping promises: A systematic review and a new classification of gang control strategies

Short‐ and Long‐Term Outcome Results from a Multisite Evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. Program

“…Additionally, a recent systematic review found that the G.R.E.A.T. program was one of only a handful of gang-awareness programs meeting strict guidelines for determining program effectiveness (Gravel, Bouchard, Descormiers, Wong, and Morselli, 2013). These designations were initially based on findings from two multisite evaluations of the "original" program curriculum: one cross-sectional study conducted in 1995 (Esbensen and Osgood, 1999) and one longitudinal study conducted between 1995 and 1999 (Esbensen, Osgood, Taylor, Peterson, and Freng, 2001), but the current classifications are based on short-term findings from an evaluation of the revised G.R.E.A.T.…”

What Works With Gangs

“…Preventing gangs from forming and eliminating established gangs altogether seems impossible when they are rooted in the cracks of our society—most prevalent in large cities with long histories of socioeconomic deprivation and racial‐ethnic conflicts (Howell, ). Nevertheless, past reviewers of gang programs have been fixated on finding a “magic bullet”—that is, exclusively model or exemplary programs (Elliott and Fagan, ; Gravel, Bouchard, Descormiers, Wong, and Morselli, ; Klein and Maxson, ; Wong, Gravel, Bouchard, Descormiers, and Morselli, ). Each of these reviews has important shortcomings, commonly, failure to include all relevant studies, use of inconsistent criteria for determining program effectiveness, and the application of the “model” program or “blueprint” criterion requiring random assignment of subjects for “effective” or “exemplary” ratings in cases where this is unacceptable.…”

A Roadmap for Advancing the Science of Gang Prevention

“…These examples demonstrate that evaluation is not for the faint of heart, but Thornberry and colleagues () provide a roadmap that demonstrates how criminologists can conduct rigorous evaluation, even in the area of gang prevention where good science is especially lacking (Gravel, Bouchard, Descormiers, Wong, and Morselli, ). As illustrated in this study, scientists must spend significant time building relationships with partners prior to the start of a study and throughout the implementation process.…”